DOWNTOWN AKRON — First Night® Akron attracted crowds of New Year’s Eve revelers to events Dec. 31. Throughout the evening, participants enjoyed horse-drawn wagon rides on snow-covered South Main Street, as shown at right top.

Those who needed to warm up were welcomed at 10 different indoor venues, including the Akron Civic Theatre, where vow renewals, pictured at right middle, and weddings took place.

Other activities included Chinese paper crafting, which Anna Leonard and her mother, Marijane Leonard, of North Canton, enjoyed with instructor Kang Li, as shown at right bottom.

Families enjoyed the first countdown of the evening at 9 p.m., then celebrated with fireworks, as shown at left. An additional fireworks display marked the official start of 2013 at midnight.

This was the 17th year for Akron’s family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration of the arts and culture on New Year’s Eve.